Motorcycle group disappointed over Remembrance Day parade snub

Riders outsted from Remembrance Day parade

Special to This Week

Kawartha Charity Riders' founder Rick Gibson wound up joining fellow members on the sidelines during this year's Lindsay Legion Remembrance Day parade. The group took part in the parade last year but were asked not to this year over concerns regarding their attire.

Riders outsted from Remembrance Day parade

(LINDSAY) Rick Gibson believes everyone should have an opportunity to pay their respects to veterans.
But his choice was significantly impacted when the group he founded three years ago, the Kawartha Charity Riders, was told their involvement in this year’s Lindsay Legion Remembrance Day parade was inappropriate.
Mr. Gibson said the group officially took part in the parade last year, for the first time.
“We marched there [to the Cenotaph] and back and we had no problems at all,” said Mr. Gibson, explaining the club wanted to be involved in order to pay their respects to those veterans who are members, those members whose forefathers fought in the First and Second World Wars, and especially all other veterans who paid the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.
When he called the Legion on Thursday (Nov. 8) to inquire about laying a wreath this year, he was asked if the club planned to march again. As far as Mr. Gibson knew, it was “all a go” when he hung up the phone.
However, later on, the Legion called him back and, when he was able to return the call on Friday morning, he was taken aback by the news the group was still welcome to lay a wreath, but not take part in the parade.
Mr. Gibson said he was told Kawartha Lakes Police Service Chief John Hagarty had said he would not participate in the parade along with the Kawartha Charity Riders.
Chief Hagarty told This Week he came to the decision on his own. Having marched in numerous parades in the past 30 years, he thought it was “odd” for the motorcycle group to be involved in an event that was specifically focussed on veterans. He also viewed their attire - jeans, leather jackets and chaps - as being disrespectful and not in-keeping with the image presented by others; cadets, Scouts, retired and currently serving military and members of emergency services.
He added some of the members were also taking photographs of officers, which made several of them uncomfortable.
Before contacting the Legion, Chief Hagarty spoke to staff to share his opinion, but at no point told them to follow his lead.
Chief Hagarty also left the final decision to the Legion, explaining, if the organization said yes to the Charity Riders, he - as an individual - would be saying no to the parade.
In the end, Mr. Gibson and his fellow Riders respected the Legion’s wishes.
But that doesn’t mean he agrees with the decision.
“I just can’t understand why he [Chief Hagarty] thinks it’s disrespectful,” said Mr. Gibson who argues the group’s clothing is expected safety wear and questioned, when it comes to crests and insignia, why are groups such as the Lion’s Club and Shriners allowed to take part in parades.
He added, the whole idea behind the creation of Kawartha Charity Riders - founded after local riders came to his aid following an accident - was to give back to the community.
“It’s not about us, it’s about the veterans,” he said, noting one of his proudest moments was being involved in the 23 kilometre-long Highway of Heroes Ride in 2011 where 4,900 motorcyclists rode from CFB Trenton to Oshawa.
In the end, Chief Hagarty was pleased to see the group join in the ceremony as spectators and “regrets that it became an issue at all.”
“Political correctness can be taken to an extreme...I simply stood up for what I believed in...But if the Legion allows it in the future, I have the right to walk or not,” he concluded.